A High-level delegation from Pakistan led by the Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Reform, Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiyar has arrived in Bejing, China to attend 8th meeting of China Pakistan Economic Corridor’s Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) which will be held on 20 December 2018.

The agenda of the meeting was to discuss the ongoing CPEC projects, CPEC progress and to identify more opportunities to invest in socio-economic development, industrial cooperation, Gwadar, Transport and Energy projects.

Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiyar also met with the president of China’s EXIM Bank Mr Zhang Qingsong and highlighted that with the help of Chinese Bank we are working on different CPEC projects such as Multan Sukkur Motorway, KKH up-gradation and cross-border fibre optic and will initiate more projects in the feature.

The president of China’s EXIM Bank Mr Zhang Qingsong also appreciated Pakistan’s efforts in making CPEC successful and also announced that the bank would keep funding in new CPEC projects under CPEC.

“The government is taking appropriate measures to overcome the current account deficit,” the minister highlighted, adding that manufacturing base of Pakistan is expanded, exports are being enhanced while policy reforms are underway to improve the ‘ease of doing business’ index.

He said that the focus of the public sector development programme was made in line with the incumbent government’s reform agenda.

Highlighting the importance of special economic zones under CPEC, Bakhtiar said that nine zones are being established that would help control the trade deficit.

The minister further intimated that Pakistan wishes to launch projects in the transport sector, with a particular focus on the development of ports, rail and roads, through Built-Operate-Transfer (BoT) mode.

The incumbent government is also trying to take up economically feasible oil and gas projects with investors to reduce the oil import bill, he added.

The minister, however, said that those projects would be promoted which are economically viable, create jobs opportunities and help in achieving sustainable growth.

The Exim Bank president on occasion said that many projects under CPEC are being implemented that would help Pakistan to achieve its development goals. He said concerning investment, Pakistan had become the top trading partner of Exim Bank and vowed to continue its support to Pakistan.